Mask for automobile lamps.



H. D. PENNEY.

MASK FOR AUTOMOBILE LAMPS. APPLIGATION FILED APB-20.1909

Patented July 27, 1909.

UNITED STA'lES lATENT OFFICE HAROLD D. PENNEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 CHESTER A. WEED. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MASK FOR AUTOMOBILE-LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Original application filed February 6, 1909, Serial No. 476,869. Divided and this application filed April 29, 1809.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 492,964.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HAROLD D. Pnivlvniya citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and nreful Improvements in Masks for Automobile- Lamps, of which the following is a specifialtion.

This invention relates to means for preventing the glare of head-lights and searchlights of motor vehicles, the objectof the mvention being to provide an improvedmask having means which normally will be 111 pcsil'iun to etfectively mask and interceptthe upward rays of ii lit thereby to prevent the blinding glare of t .e lamp from bewildering pedestrians or drivers of approaching vehicles, while permitting the efi'ective passage of the downward rays, and which means may be operated from the seat of the vehicle so as to enable the li ht to be thrown upward or in a horizonta direction as occasion may rugnire. and which improvement will be simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object. of the invention is the provision of an improved mask or hood having slliftable light ray intercepting means and particularly adapted for attachment in front of the lamp body or door, or cxtcriorlv of the front less of a motor vehicle headlight or sect-c i-li ht, and which, in one form thereof, ma y be shiftable with the lamp door whereby access to the interior of the lamp through the doorway is not interfered with, and which shifluble menus may be pneumatically operated from the drivers seat of the vehicle.

'ihe ircscnt application is u division of my application Serial No. 476,369. filed February 1.1. 1909. now Patent No. 921,449, dated May ll, 1209.

In the drawings accompanying and forming not of this specification, Figure 1 is a l'lillfllll sectional view of :1 motor vehicle lamp with this improved light my intercepting means attached thereto in front of the fruit glass thereof: Fig. 2 is a front View of the improvement shown. in Fi 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged \crticnliseEtionnl view of the from part of lhel iinp'lmcl .shown in Fig. 1, with the musk cheih new, the lamp glass being removed, mi N ,dotted lines r 3 I i illustrating one adjustment of the shiftable light ray intercepting means; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sections view of the front part of a lamp body provided with a swi ing door and having another form of this improved mask connected to the door; Fi 5 is a detail erspectivc view of. one of t e shiftable nieni ers or lonvers; and Fig. 6 is a erspective view showing the same attache to the rim of the mask.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings.

Owing to the blinding lore of motor vehicle head-lights and searc -lights, duetothe upward rays of ii ht, it is desirable that some means he provided which will eliminate the dangerous efiects of such light rays by interceptin them without destroying the power of the light. It is also desirable at times no a device of this kind to be able to shift the light ray intercepting means so as to permit the light to be thrown directly forward. or upward when it is dmired, for in stance, to read a sign board along the road; and to provide a structure which in its normal position will intercept the light. rays so as to prevent the glare of the 11 ht, but which also may be so manipulated cm the drivers seat in the manner described is the object of the present improvement. Moreover, it is essential to a practical means of this kind that it be comparatively sim 1c in construction and readily attachable to amps as now manufactured and when such lam is made with a swinging front door, that. it may be of a construction which will not interfere with the accessibility to the interior of the lamp on the opening of the door.

In the present embodiment of this improvement the mask is attached in front of the lamp bod and therefore in front of the glass or to tie door when the lamp is provided with n shiftable or swin 'ng door.

It is to be understood that. t 1e lamp body may be of any desired form, and that the improvement does not. necessarily require any change in the form of lamps as now manufactured.

In Fig. 1 a conventional form of motorvehicle lump or lump body 2 s shown which is not provided with n swingm front door. This lamp body has the usual root glass 4-,

u. swinging rear door 5 and reflector 6. In Fig. 4, however, the front of the conventional form of lam body is shown provided with a swinging oor 7 hinged thereto in an desired manner as at 8.

[his improved mask 10 um be made up in various ways, and is usua ly preferably of a circular formation to conform to the shape of the door or front of the lamp, and in the form shown comprises an attachin rim 11 which may be secured to the front 0 the lamp bod or to the rim of the door in an desire manner, as for instance by thum screws 12. This attaching rim in the form shown is provided with a forwardly projecting flange or flanges 13 to which a plurality of shiftable slats or louvers 14 are pivoted. While these slats or louvers may pivoted to these flanges in any desired manner, in the resent instance each louver is shown rovi ed with a pair of pivots 15, one at eac 1 end, for insertion into openin in the flangesi whereby the louvers may swung upwar or downward. These louvers are located in parallelism one above another across the front of the lamp, one preferably overlapping the other to a slight extent, and if desired could be attached to a part of the lamp bod instead of the rim as shown herein. or swingin these louvers improved means is provi ed, this including a connecting rod 16 secured to each of the louvers. This could be located midway of the louvers if referred, but in the present instance this mg is connected to each louver at one end thereof outside of the lamp body, and for this purpose each louver may be provided with a projection 17 either formed as one piece with the louver or attached thereto 1n any desired manner and secured to the connecting rod. For shifting these louvers up or down this rod 16 is connected at its u per end by means of a pin 18 with a slotted ink 19, the inner end of which is connected to a rock shaft 20 the opposite end of which is in turn connected to a link 21, to which the operating member or rod 22 is attached. This operating rod may be in the form of a wire leading to the dash board or seat of the vehicle. [he rock shaft 20 to which the inner ends of these two links 19 and 21 are connected is supported by brackcts 23 and 24, which may be secured to the lamp bod in an suitable manner, or may be earrie by a and that may he slipped over and rigidly secured to the lamp bo The lower end of the connecting rod is mounted in a forwardly extending slotted arm 9 the inner end of which is also secured to the lamp body, or, if a band is used, to this band, the connecting rod pro'ectin through the slot and at the outer end tlicl'eo 'lhisconnecting rod 16 has a collar or head 2!: at its lower end, and between it and the underside of the arm 9 a coil spring 2 3 i loosely mounted. This spring is tensioned or adjusted to normally return the slats or louver-s to their pro )er downwardly inclined position, as shown or instance in Fig. 1 and y dotted lines in Fig. 3, to intercept the upward rays of light. Further downward movement is limited by a suitable stop such as a pin 26 adapted to engage the outer end of the bracket 9.

Should it be desired to entirely close these louvcrs or slats, as in the day time, to profeet the front of the glass from dust and dirt, it will be merely necessary to disengage the stoi 26 and want the swing to pull the ro( downwar The tension of the spring may be regulated by the nut 25. The actuating rod 16 is shown provided with openings 17' slightly larger than the pivots 17 thereby to afford sufiicicnt play between the pivots and the actuating rod to permit a complete closing of the louvers when desired.

'hen it is desired to shift the louvers into a horizontal or an upwardly inclined Josition, it will be merely necessary to pu on the operating rod, which may be done by the driver without moving from his seat. Suitable means may be provided at the dash board for holding this operatin rod in any of its adjusted positions, but w ien it is desired to hold the slats temporarily in their upward or horizontal position the rod may be held by the hand or foot of the driver according to the means provided for that purpose 111 the proper position to accomplish this. On the releax of the operating rod the spring will return the slats to their light my intercepting position.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 this improved mask is shown attached to the rim 3 of the swinging front door 7, and is )rovided with the slats or louver-s constructe and mounted in the manner hereinbcfore described and secured to a connecting rod 30 suitably supported at its upper end by an arm 31 carried by the mask. At the underside of this mask a bracket 32 is provided for carrying a dash pot or cylinder 33 in which is located a spring tcnsioned piston 34, the spring 35 of which is located between the piston head 36 and a cap or closure 37' securod to the top of the cylinder in any desired manner, as by soldering it tlwrcon or by formin it with a threaded flange to be rotatcd thereon, and through which cap the actuating rod 30 msses and slides. On top of this cu 37 is coated an adjustable wing nut 37. liy adjusting this wing nut 37 the position of the louvers is regulated in a manncr which will be readily nndcrshnnl. The lower end of this cylinder is provided with a ni iplo 38 to which is secured some sultnblo to lug, as for instance rubber tulnng 39, which will lend to tho drivel-s seat or to the dash board, as may be found desirable, and

provided with an o eratiu bulb 40. The spring 35 normally olds t to shlftable louvers in their proper downwardly inclined position, it being tensioned and adjusted for this purpose by the nut 37 herembefore referred to, so as to intercept the npwardrays of 1i ht without interfering with the downwarr? rays thereof. When, however, it is desired to shift these lonvers into a horizontal or u Jwardly inclined position the operator will merely compress the bulb and thereby pneumatically force the piston upward and thus raise the leavers, the spring returning them on the release of the bulb. The tubing between the bulb and the iston cylinder will usually be flexible and 0 such length that the door of the lamp may be swui open without the necessity of detachin" the mask therefrom.

in the form shown in Fig. i if it is desired to entirely close the slats the nut 37 may be so adjusted that the tension of the spring will be relieved and so permit the slats to be entirely closed across the front of the lamp, and to ermit this to be done the actuating rod 30 is provided with elongated slots In practice the rod connected to each of the louvers may be located adjacent the outer edge thereof or intermediate their front and rear edges, as may be preferred.

The ore oing improvement thus provides a very sim ile and com aratively inexpensive mask for motor-vehie e lamps in which the light my interceptin louvers or slats may be readily shifted y the driver of the vehicle withoutleaving his seat.

By forming the mask so that it may be attached to the front of the lamp body in front of the glass either to the bod itself or to the door when such is provi ed, the device forms not only a light ray interce ting means, but also at protecting means or the glass not only from dust and dirt when the louvers are closed, but also from injury, as it will be readily )crceived that in case of collision these mem ers will act as buffers to a large extent and so protect the glass from injury and breakage.

, 'If desired the under surfaces of the light fray intercepting members or louvers may be" made as reflecting surfaces by silvering or nickel-plating them, that the upward rays v \pf light when the louvers are. in a down vardly inclined position may be to a large extent reflected downwardly on the road.

It will, of course, be understood that the various details may be more or less modified without departing from the spirit and scope of this improvement.

In practice it will be observed that. the mask. especiallv that form thereof shown in Fig. 4, may be readily detached from the front of the lamp if for any purpose this is desirable, by simply removing the rim which is shown connected to the rim of the door by thumb screws, and even in the form shown in Fi 1 to 3 this mask may be readily detached when the links and bracket arm are carried by a band slipped over the front of the lamp body.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shiftably supported members located in frontof such lamp and one above anotherfor intclcepting the up- ;vard rays of light. to prevent the glare of the amp.

2. The combination with a lamp of the class described, having a front i358, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shiftably supported members located in front of such glass and one above another for intercepting the u ward rays of light to prevent theglare of 1 1e lamp.

3. The combination with a lamp of the class described having a swin ing front door, of a. lurali of normall downwardly inclin shifta 1y sup orte members secured to and shiftable with such door and one above another for intercepting the upward iays of light to prevent the glare of the 4. '[he combination with a lamp of the class described having a swin ing front door, of aedaluralitv of normally ownwardly in clin shiftably supporter members secured to and located in front of such door and one above another for intercepting the upward rays of light to prevent the glare of the lamp.

5. The combination with a lamp of the of normally class described, of a plnralit downwardly inclined shifta- 1y supported members located in front of such lamp and one above another to intercept the upward rays of lightand prevent the glare of the lamp, means for holding them in such position, and means for shifting such members into different ositions.

6. The com ination with a lamp of the class described having a front glass, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shiftably supported members located 111 front of such glass and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light. and prevent the glare of the lamp, means for hold ng them in such position, and means for shifting such members into different positions.

7. The combination with a lamp of the class described having a swinging front door, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shiftahly supported members cured to and shiftable with such door and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and n'event the glare of the lump, means for ho ding them in such position, and means for shifting such members into different Jositions,

8. The comiination with a lamp of the class described having a swinging front &

door, of a lurality of normally downwardly inclined s iftably supported members socured to and located in front of such door and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and )revent the glare of the lamp, means for he din them 111 suchposition, and means for shlfling such members into different positions.

9. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a pluralit of normally downwardly inclined shifta ly supported members carried by the lamp and one above another to interce t the uplward rays of li ht and prevent the g are of t e lamp, means or holdin them in such position, and pneumatically controlled means for shifting such members into difl'erent positions.

10. The combination with a lamp of the class described, having a swinging front door, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shiftably supported members secured to and shiftable with such door and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and prevent the glare of the lamp, means for holding them in such position, and pneumatically controlled means for shifting such members into different positions.

11. The combination with a lamp of the class described having a swinging front door, of a lurality of normally downwardly inclined s liftably supported members secared to and located in front of such door and one above another to interceptthe up ward rays of light and revent the glare of the lamp, spring contro ed means for boldor them in such position, and pneumatical y controlled means for shifting such memhers into difl'erent positions.

12. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a pluralit of normally downwardly inclined shifta ly supported members carried by the lamp and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and prevent the glare of the lamp, means for holding the members in such position, and means for shifting such members into difi'erent positions,

13. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a pluralit of normally downwardly inclined shifta ly supported members cirried by the lamp and one above another to. intercept the upward rays of light and prevent the glare of the lamp, spring controlled means for holding the members in such osition, and means for shifting such mcm ers into ditlerent positions.

14. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shifta ly supported members carried by the lamp and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and prevent the glare of the lamp, spring controlled means for holding the members in such position, and pnemnatically controlled means for shifting such members into different positions.

15. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined shiftably supported members located one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and prevent the glare of the lamp, and means including piston mechanism for shifting such members mto dillerent positions.

16. The combination with a lamp of the class described having a swinging front door, of a plurality of normally downwardly inclined s iftably supported members secured to and shiftable with such door and one above another to intercept the upward rays of light and revent the glare of the lamp, means for l olding the members in such position, and means including piston mechanism for shifting such members into difierent positions.

17. The combination with a lamp of the class described having a swinging front door, of means connected thereto for movement therewith for preventing the lare of the lamp and comprising shiftab e members located to intercept the upward ra 's of light, and means for shifting said members.

18. The combination with a lamp of the class described having a swinging front door, of means connected thereto for movement therewith for preventing the glare of the lamp and comprising shiftable members located to interce t the upward rays of light, and pneumatica lv controlled means for shiftin said me bers.

19. he combination with a lamp of the class described, of means comprising a series of overlapping ivotally supported shiftable members earrie by the lamp one above another and having normally downwardly inclined positions to intercept the u ward rays of light thereby to revent the are of the lam J while permitting the effective passage of t ie downward rays of light, means for maintaining the members in such osition, and means for shifting them into ilferent positions.

20. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of means comprisin a plurality of pivotally supported s iiftab e members carried thereby on above another and having normally downwardly inclined 0S1- tions to intercept the upward ra s of ight thereby to prevent the lare o the lamp while permitting the e eetive passage of the downward rays of li ht, a s ring tensioned rod connected to al of sai members, and means in operative connection with said rod and adapted to lend to a vehicle for shiflin said members.

21. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of means com ris'm v a plurality of pivotally supported s iftab e members carried thereby one above another and having normally downwardly lnchned cs1- tions to intercept the upward re s of ight thereby to prevent the glare 0 the lamp while permitting the effective passage of the downward re s of light, a s ring tensioned rod connected to all of sai members, and pneumatically controlled means in operative connection with said rod and ada ted to be oqirated from a vehicle for shifting sa1d mem rs.

22. A mask for preventing the glare of head and search lights, comprising a rim, a plurality of shiftable slats pivotal] secured to such rim :1 spring tensione rod connected to said 5 ots, and means for shifting said rod.

"23. A mask for preventing the glare of head and search lights comprising a rim, a plurality of shift-able slats pivotally secured to such rim, a sprin tensioned rod connected to said slats, and pneumatically controlled means for shifting said rod.

24. The combination with a motor-vehicle lamp, of a detachable mask for the front of said lamp and including a plurality of shiftable members for intercepting the upward rays of light to Prevent the glare of the lamp, and means or shifting said members.

25. The combination with a motor-vehicle lam of a detachable mask for the front of sari lamp and including a plurality of shiftahle members for intercepting the upward rays of light to prevent the glare of the lamp, and pneumatically controlled means for shifting said members.

26. The combination with a. motor-vehicle lamp having a swingin front door, of a detachable mask for sand door, said mask having aplurality of shiftable members for intercepting the upward. rays of light to prevent the glare of the lamp while permitting the effectiw: passage of the downward rays of light, and means for shifting said members.

27. The combination with a motor-vehicle lamp having a swinging front door, of a detachable mask for said door, said mask having a plurality of shiftable members for intercepting the upward rays of light to prevent the glare of the lamp while permitting the effective passage of the downward rays of li ht, and means including a swin tensioned rod and operating means t- 161%?01 for shift-mg said members.

HAROLD D. PENNEY.

\Vitnesses:

T. E. Boron, JOHN O. SnIrnn'r. 

